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On December 28th, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas started a joint military exercise from Gaza.
? عدسة صفا| صورة منوعة من مناورة الركن الشديد التي أطلقتها الغرفة المشتركة لفصائل المقاومة اليوم pic.twitter.com/mWpCZ7stDm
— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) December 29, 2020
A statement was also released from a joint operations room that said any aggression by Israel would be met with a united response.
? تصميم صفا| الغرفة المشتركة:
قرارنا موحد في خوض أي مواجهة تُفرض على شعبنا في أي زمان ومكان، وعلى قيادة الاحتلال أن تدرك بأن مجرد التفكير في مغامرة ضد شعبنا ستواجه بكل قوة ووحدة وستحمل الكثير من المفاجآت بإذن الله. pic.twitter.com/AQxOKLBiWl— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) December 29, 2020
“Our decision is unified in responding to any confrontation imposed on our people at any time and place, and the occupation leadership must realize that the mere thought of an adventure against our people will be confronted with all strength and unity and will carry many surprises,” said Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamzah in a speech marking the beginning of the drill.
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According to Israeli outlet KAN news, Iran requested that the Gazan groups carry out the joint exercise in order to send a message to Israel that any attack could be responded to from all fronts.
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Pictures published by Palestinian media from the beginning of the drill showed rockets being fired and drones belonging to the terrorist groups in the air above the Gaza Strip. They were not fired at Israel, but at the Mediterranean Sea.
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? متابعة صفا| شاهد لحظة إطلاق رشقة صاروخية إيذانا ببدء مناورات الركن الشديد لفصائل المقاومة الفلسطينية في قطاع غزة صباح اليوم pic.twitter.com/i1D66cF2Df
— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) December 29, 2020
Abu Hamzah added that the resistance was also always in a state of development and improvement.
? تصميم صفا| الغرفة المشتركة:
المقاومة في حالة دائمة من التطور في أدواتها وتكتيكاتها وإدارتها للصراع، وإن العدو قبل الصديق يدرك بأن المقاومة اليوم بفضل الله هي أقوى وأصلب وأكثر قدرة على مواجهته وردعه وإيلامه pic.twitter.com/mlKASjovxW— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) December 29, 2020
“The resistance is in a constant state of development in its tools, tactics, and management of the conflict, and that the enemy before the friend realizes that the resistance today, thanks to God, is stronger and stronger and more capable of confronting him, deterring him and hurting him.”
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The spokesman added that the terrorist groups in Gaza “will not allow the Zionist enemy to impose rules of engagement that it does not consent to,” adding that “shame agreements and failed normalization ceremonies will not change anything on the ground.”
In addition to Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, according to Israeli media 10 more groups will take part in the exercises.
And reportedly the drill “comes in the context of enhancing cooperation and joint action between the resistance groups to raise their combat readiness permanently and continuously,” according to a statement by the Gaza-based Joint Operations Room, a group consisting of various factions.
According to the groups, the drill aims to send a “message of deterrence” to Israel.
“The main message is that the Palestinian resistance groups are ready to respond to any Israeli aggression,” a Hamas official in the Gaza Strip told reporters.
Meanwhile, Israel continues demolishing homes in the Gaza Strip, and there were clashes with citizens.
? صور من المواجهات مع قوات الاحتلال في الخالدية شرق مدينة يطا بالخليل أثناء محاولة المواطنين منع هدم منازل في منطقة غزيوه. pic.twitter.com/wENCTcA6y2
— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) December 29, 2020
This all followed an Israeli submarine reportedly openly crossing the Suez canal in a “show of force” directed at Iran.
The move was approved by Egypt, according to the Kan public broadcaster, which cited Arab intelligence sources. The submarine reportedly surfaced and faced the Persian Gulf, which lies on the other side of Saudi Arabia. The intelligence sources said the move was meant to “send a message” to Iran.
IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman said that although Israel was not aware of any specific plans by Iran to attack the Jewish state, Iranian forces could carry out an attack from Iraq or Yemen, according to a translation of the interview by the Ynet news site.
He said Israel had information indicating Iran was developing unmanned aerial vehicles and “smart missiles” in Iraq and Yemen, and that the weapons could have the ability to strike Israel.
In response, the top naval commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that Iran was ready to defend itself and was prepared for any scenario.
“Forces, systems and equipment are at the desired level of readiness to defend the water borders, the interests and security of our country,” said IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri.
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